Combined cutter, distributor, and protector for outboard motors



Aug 15, 1944. j A A O 2,355,842

COMBINED CUTTER, DISTRIBUTOR, AND PROTECTOR FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS Filed June 28, 1943 INVENTOR.

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Patented Aug. 15, 1944 con/roman CUTTER, DISTRIBUTOR, AND

PROTECTOR FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS JohnG Arado, Chicago, ill. Application June 28, 1943, Serial No. 492,550

I V 7 claims. (01. 115-40) Out-board motors are well-known and have been in generaluse for a great many years. They are used 'quite generally for propelling small boats in shallow waters'in places where the vegetation, such as bulrushes, lily pads, and other plants, grow in profusion. One of the serious objections encountered heretofore and which has existed for a great many years is that in navigating such places the motor is stalled or rendered useless by vegetation being drawn into and wrapped around the propeller or propeller shaft; Attempts have heretofore been made to guard the propeller against such things when encountered, but, when put to commercial use, they have failed to solve the problem. Therefore, the principal object of my invention is to provide a combined cutter, distributor and protector which successfully solves this long-existing problem.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of this kind adapted to be readily and quickly attached and detached by unskilled hands to the well-known types of out-board motors, which device is provided with means for first cutting the vegetation and then conveying or distributing the vegetation outwardly and away from the propeller and prevents the vegetation from being sucked in or drawn into the propeller and becoming entwined therewith.

A further object of my invention is to provide such a device with means for readily and quickly mounting it on an out-board motor in such a manner as to preventthe device or parts thereof from being thrown into contact with the rotating propeller blades in the event the fastening means become loose due to the tremendous vibration set up by the motor. 7 l

The above and other objects, features and advantages and capabilities will become apparent from a detailed description of the accompanying drawing, in which I have illustrated the preferred form of my invention. However, I do not wish to be limited to the particular form except as hereinafter described in the appended claims.

Fig. 1 illustrates diagrammatically a wellknown type of out-board motor showing a fragmentary portion of a boat to which the outboard motor is attached, and in elevation shows my combined cutter, distributor and protector attached to the frame of the motor forward of and adjacent to the propeller.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a transverse view partially in section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and

Fig. 4 is a. fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of'Fig. 1, and looking;

' in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Referring to the drawing in detail:

The out-board motor generally indicated by the reference ill is attached by suitable means to a boat II in a manner diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. l, or in any satisfactory manner.

My combined cutter, distributor and protector comprises a downwardly and slightly rearwardly curved body member and deflector l2, preferably constructed of sheet metal, and is V- shaped in cross-section. The depth and size of the V-shaped cross-section gradually increases from a relatively small V at its ends to a relatively large V intermediate its ends. Secured within the V member l2 and adjacent its apeX is a curved rod l3. Passing around the rod l3 and between it and the rear face of the V member [2 are a plurality of tines l4, V-shaped in crosssection, which tines are secured both to the curved rod l3 and the V-shaped body member l2 in any suitable manner, welding. These tines, as and 2 are vertically spaced an equidistance. The tines extend rearwardly from the V-shaped frame member and deflector l2. The distance to which they thus extend rearwardly successively increases from the uppermost tine to a point about intermediate the ends of the body member and deflector l2, and then gradually decreases in length toward the lowermost tine. It will also be noted in the places shown in Figs. 1 and 2 that the tines are also inclined slightly downwardly from the true horizontal. This arrangement has a tendency to feed or deflect the weeds, which engage the tines, downwardly.

Rigidly fixed to the forward edge or face of the apex of the V-shaped body member and deflector is a blade l5. This blade is preferably made of metal and is provided with a front, substantially straight cutting edge [6, having its extremities curved rearwardly at IT.

The device is provided with means for readily and quickly attaching and detaching it to and from a well-known type of outboard motor. In the particular form shown, these means consist of a relatively long, U-shaped, resilient, flexible metal strap l8, which, at its center, is looped around and rigidly fixed to the curved rod l3 near the upper end of the device, and rigidly fixed thereto by means of solder and rivets, or both. The companion legs of this strap l8 near such as, for example, by best shown in Figs. 1'

except that the their outer end are provided with registered openings for receiving a screw-threaded bolt, which bolt I9 is held in place by a thumb nut 20.

A similar fastening strap is rigidly fixed to the rod [3 near the lower end of the device,

latter is relatively short as compared with the upper strap l8. The device is secured in place on the motor forward of and adjacent to the propeller by simply placing the strap l8 around the motor shaft housing 2|, which is somewhat egg-shaped in cross-section, and then tightly clamping it therearound by means of the bolt and thumb screw, as best shown in Fig. 3. The shaft housing'near its lower and underside is provided with an opening to which the lower metal strap fastener is secured.

be produced as an article of manufacture and sold over the counter, and can be readily and quickly applied by unskilled, delicate hands.

In operation after the device. has been applied and the boat is being navigated through waters loaded with debris and vegetation, such as brush, weeds, lilies, bulrushes and thelike, the cutting The device is of a kind and type which can blade first cuts and divides such material into two rows. Then the V-shaped frame member and deflector which extends outwardly and rearwardly distributes or deflects the cut material outwardly, from which point the material is further distributed or deflected rearwardly or out warclly by the successively increasing and decreasing tines. The relatively long tines which are positioned axially of the propeller prevent the objectionable material from being sucked in My V-shaped' to the center of the propeller. deflector positioned in front of the V-shaped tines prevents the propeller from pulling the Weeds and the like into and wrapping around the propeller shaft.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A combined weed cutter, deflector and distributor for out-board motors comprising in combination a V-shaped body member and deflector gradually increasing in cross-section from its ends to its center, a plurality of V-shaped spaced tines secured to the rear face of said V-shaped deflector, 'a straight edge cutting blade rigidly fixed to the forward face at the apex of said. deflector, and means for readily and quickly'securing said device to an out-board motor forward of and adjacent to its propeller, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

'2. A combined weed cutter, deflector anddis trib uto r for out-board motors as an article of manufacture, adapted to be sold over the counter, comprising a V-shaped body member and deflector, a plurality of V-shaped tines of unequal lengths secured to the rear face of said deflector,

deflector and distributor as an article of manufacture, adapted to be sold over the counter, comprising a vertically arranged V-shaped body member and substantially imperforate deflector, a plurality of V-shaped tines of unequal lengths secured to the rear face of said deflector at its apex, and means for readily and quickly securing said device to an out-board motor, said means comprising a pair of resilient, flexible straps adapted to be looped and tightly clamped around the motor shaft housing adjacent to the propeller, and a spaced, relatively short pair of straps secured to the rear face of the V-shaped housing member or deflector, adapted to be secured to the motor shaft housing near its lower end.

4. A combined weed deflector and distributor for out-board motors as an article of manufacture adapted to be sold over the counter, comprising a vertically arranged V-shaped bodymember and substantially imperforate deflector, and a series of spaced, V-shaped tines secured to the rear face of the V-shaped deflector, which tines extend rearwardly and outwardly and grad- ,ually increase in length from the top of the device towards its center, and then gradually decrease in length to the lower edge of said device.

5. A combined weed deflector and distributor for out-board motors comprising in combination a Vertically arranged body member having realwardly and outwardly deflecting substantially imperforate wings, a plurality of spaced tines extending rearwardly and outwardly from said wings, and means for securing said device on an out-board motor forward of and adjacent to its propeller.

6. A combined weed cutter, deflector and distributor for out-board motors comprising in comination a body member having rearwardly and I outwardly deflecting wings, a plurality of spaced tines extending rearwardly and outwardly from said Wings, and a cutting blade fixed to said body member forward of said wings.

7. A combined weed deflector and distributor for out-board motors comprising in combination a vertically arranged body member having rearwardly and outwardly deflecting substantially imperforate wings, a plurality of spaced tines extending rearwardly and outwardly from said wings, said tinessuccessively increasing in length from opposite ends of the body member towards the center thereof. 7

JOHN G. ARA-DO. 

